CNS Macro Trauma Flashcards
What are parenchymal cells?
functional tissue as opposed to supporting structures
Prognosis for straight skull fracture
usually pretty good
If someone fractures their frontal bone, were they unconscious before or after the fall?
before, otherwise they would have caught themselves
If someone fractures their occipital bone, were they unconscious before or after the fall?
after
Depressed skull fracture main danger
may damage underlying brain tissue
Complicated fracture often found in depressed skull fractures where a chunk of bone breaks off from the skull
comminuted
This type of fracture is across a skull suture
diastatic
What is the complication related to a diastatic skull fracture
the suture widens
What type of skull fracture may result in CSF draining from the nose?
basal skull fracture
This type of skull fracture may result in a distant hematoma
basal skull fracture
What is a concussion?
an altered state of consciousness from a head injury due to change in momentum of the head–due to stretching and snapping of the brain and not brain pushing on skull
What is second impact syndrome?
having another concussion before the first one is healed
Complication of second impact syndrome?
rapid brain swelling
Pathophys of chronic traumatic encephalopathy
progressive degenerative disease of the brain caused by repetitive brain trauma
What protein is most associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy?
tau protein
What are the two types of injury types of parenchymal tissue?
coup (same side as impact)
contrecoup (opposite side of impact)
“Shaken baby syndrome” is a type of this parenchymal injury
diffuse axonal injury
Diffuse axonal injury is due to what physiologically?
twisting/sheering of axons
Epidural hematomas are caused by damage to what vessel?
middle meningeal artery
What is the typical case of an epidural hematoma?
baseball to the head
Radiological finding of epidural hematoma?
smooth contours–dura is very hard so keeps blood contained
What vessels are damaged in a subdural hematoma?
cerebral veins (bridging)
What is the typical presentation of a subdural hematoma?
elderly patient falls but seems okay
Radiological findings of subdural hematoma
“ragged” edged
Pathophys of subarachnoid hemorrhage
berry aneurysm rupture, contusion
Typical presentation of subarachnoid hemorrhage
“worst headache I ever had”
What is the new-fangled treatment of berry aneurysms?
coils put in through femoral vein
